Clinical efficacy of one-stage transforaminal debridement, interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation for treatment of thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy and surgical indications of one?stage transforaminal debridement, interbody fusion combined with posterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis. Methods All of 34 patients with thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis were retrospectively analyzed,treated by one?stage transforaminal debridement, interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation from June 2010 to April 2013, including 21 males and 13 females, aged 21 to 64 years old, av?erage 38.2 years. All patients were treated by preoperative quadruple antituberculosis drugs therapy for 2-4 weeks, postoperative regular chemotherapy for 12-18 months. Preoperative and postoperative changes in clinical symptoms, nervous function, the situa?tion of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C?reactive protein (CRP) with strict follow?up, as well as other related compli?cations were observed. The spinal fusion rate and fusion situation, changing of the physiological curvature, as well as loosening or breaking of the internal fixation device were detected through regular imaging examination. Results The surgery duration time was 60-150 min, average 110 min, and the blood loss was 80-550 ml, average 320 ml. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in one case. All of the operations were completed successfully without nerve or spinal cord injuries. Postoperative follow?up time was 1 to 4 years, average 2.5 years. Clinical symptoms improved significantly in three months after operation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) improvement rate was about 93%. All patients' ESR and CRP returned to normal levels at the last follow?up. The Kirkaldy?Willis function score showed that the total fine rate was 94%. 12 cases of patients had various degrees of neurological dysfunction before operation, which were back to normal at the final follow?up, except one case of ASIA class B turned to C. Inci?sion fistula formation happened in one case at the third months after surgery, and the wound was healed after debridement. All pa?tients got solid fusion between vertebral body, and there was no graft absorption or collapse, pseudarthrosis, tuberculosis recur?rence, and loosening or breaking of internal fixation devices. Cunclusion One?stage transforaminal debridement, interbody fu?sion and posterior instrumentation is a simple, effective and safety surgical approach, which has great application value for surgi?cal treatment of patients with thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis.